CVE-2018-11058 in PeopleSoft Enterprise PeopleTools
Summary
by MITRE
RSA BSAFE Micro Edition Suite, versions prior to 4.0.11 (in 4.0.x) and prior to 4.1.6 (in 4.1.x), and RSA BSAFE Crypto-C Micro Edition, version prior to 4.0.5.3 (in 4.0.x) contain a Buffer Over-Read vulnerability when parsing ASN.1 data. A remote attacker could use maliciously constructed ASN.1 data that would result in such issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11058 represents a critical buffer over-read condition within RSA BSAFE Micro Edition Suite and RSA BSAFE Crypto-C Micro Edition cryptographic libraries. This flaw exists in multiple versions including those prior to 4.0.11 in the 4.0.x series and 4.1.6 in the 4.1.x series, as well as versions before 4.0.5.3 in the 4.0.x series of the crypto-c component. The vulnerability manifests specifically during the parsing of ASN.1 formatted data structures which are fundamental to many cryptographic operations and certificate handling processes. ASN.1 (Abstract Syntax Notation One) is a standardized notation used for describing data structures that can be serialized and deserialized in a cross-platform way, making it essential for secure communications protocols including x509 certificates, tls handshakes, and various cryptographic message formats.
The technical implementation flaw occurs when the cryptographic libraries process malformed or specially crafted ASN.1 data structures that exceed the allocated buffer boundaries during parsing operations. This over-read condition allows an attacker to access memory locations beyond the intended buffer limits, potentially exposing sensitive data or enabling further exploitation techniques. The vulnerability is classified as a buffer over-read under CWE-125 which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions in software implementations. This type of vulnerability typically arises from insufficient bounds checking during array or buffer operations, particularly when processing variable-length data structures such as those encountered in ASN.1 parsing where the length of data elements is not properly validated against allocated buffer space.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems utilizing these cryptographic libraries for secure communications, certificate validation, or cryptographic operations. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious ASN.1 data structures that trigger the buffer over-read condition when processed by vulnerable applications. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure as this type of vulnerability can potentially lead to information disclosure, application crashes, or in more sophisticated attack scenarios, provide foothold for additional exploitation techniques. The vulnerability affects systems that rely on RSA BSAFE libraries for SSL/TLS implementations, certificate processing, or any cryptographic operations involving ASN.1 data parsing, making it particularly concerning for network security infrastructure, web servers, and applications handling secure communications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-11058 focus primarily on upgrading to patched versions of the affected RSA BSAFE libraries. Organizations should immediately upgrade to RSA BSAFE Micro Edition Suite version 4.0.11 or later in the 4.0.x series and 4.1.6 or later in the 4.1.x series, while also upgrading RSA BSAFE Crypto-C Micro Edition to version 4.0.5.3 or later. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures can help reduce the attack surface by ensuring that ASN.1 data received from untrusted sources undergoes thorough validation before processing. Network segmentation and monitoring for suspicious ASN.1 data patterns may also provide additional defensive layers. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers the use of remote code execution techniques, and the broader category of T1595 which deals with network infiltration through exploitation of cryptographic vulnerabilities. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any applications or systems still utilizing vulnerable versions of these cryptographic libraries and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to prevent similar issues in the future.